Reunifying Ireland

Since Ireland was partitioned in 1920 its reunification has seemed impossible. Many still feel that way, partly because of the bloody legacy of past conflict. In the North, however, the demographic majority of Ulster Protestants is lost, and Ulster unionists are no longer the largest voting bloc: in the 2023 local government elections their combined support fell below 40 per cent, compared to the combined Northern nationalist vote of 44 per cent. Referendums on reunification may be on the horizon but even those who want reunification are not prepared. Distinguished political scientist Brendan O'Leary—profoundly engaged with the Irish question for nearly four decades—addresses what needs to be done to ensure adequate preparation, drawing on his books and research he has led on public opinion conducted under the auspices of ARINS, a joint initiative of the University of Notre Dame and the Royal Irish Academy.